It is also in this same hotel complex that were housed two teams from pool B which played their matches at the Stade Omnisports de Kouékong, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Saintfiet estimates that we accommodate six players per room, that it is “ a bad hotel “, which is located two and a half hours from the stadium. He believes that his players are not respected » by the organization of the CAN, before their 8e final against Guinea, Monday in Bafoussam.
Note that the hotel he is talking about has a rating of 8.2/10 on the world-renowned site Booking.com which is a reference in terms of hotel reservations.
The reality is that Bana, the city in which the hotel complex is located, is actually about fifty kilometers from the Stade Omnisports de Bafoussam Kouékong. Accompanied by sirens and police cars leading the way, it takes around 40 minutes to reach both ends.
We can understand the anger of Saintfiet since it is the first time that he accompanies a selection in a major competition. In Japan in 2002, Cameroon traveled two hours to reach the stadiums where they had matches.
Worse than the rant is the trivialization of lies. Due to restrictions due to COVID-19, each selection is placed in the ideal conditions to create a health bubble around it.
Less than 15 minutes from the hotel that serves as their place of residence, is their training ground at the Stade Municipal de Bafang. The only trips for the Stade Omnisports would therefore be solely for the reconnaissance of the pitch, and for the match.
What exactly did Tom Saintfiet say ?
« My answer must be a bit diplomatic “, warns the Belgian technician in a pre-match press conference on Sunday, specifying from the outset that he “ like to be here », for the very first participation of » Scorpions at the Africa Cup.
But he paints a bleak picture of his team’s reception conditions in a hotel in the Bafoussam region.
« I have never seen this »
« Six players sleep in the same room, with the same bathroom, the same shower “, and “ only two, three staff members have a single room, the others sleep two in the same bed, in the time of the Covid “, describes Saintfiet.
« The hotel and the infrastructure where we are, I worked 14 years in Africa, I have never seen this “, insists the Belgian.
His team “ must travel two and a half hours to go to the stadium, as we have to be there an hour and a half before that makes us leave four hours before the match. But science says you have to eat three and a half hours before the game, you can’t eat when you want ? ” he asks.
« We are professionals », continues Saintfiet. “ We are a small country like Malawi or Zimbabwe, but we must be respected. We are here to write history. I have great players (who play) in Europe, they are not respected by the organization, and it’s really a shame. »
In Bafoussam, Gambia plays Monday against Guinea, and Senegal faces Cape Verde on Tuesday.
This creates “ favoritism »
« When we organize a tournament with four teams in a stadium, and you pay, you pay the hotels, each team needs the same level (of service), it’s respect for each team asks the coach.
« Because when you create differences between teams, when big teams have better hotels, nice infrastructure, near the stadium, and small countries have bad hotels, you create favoritism », Insist Saintfiet.
« If The Gambia are African champions or Cameroon, it must be decided on the pitch, not at the hotel “, he hammers.
So there you have it, a fabricated alibi in case things don’t turn out well in Monday’s game. Hope the CAF will appreciate.